The North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835 was a meeting of delegates elected by eligible voters in counties in the United States state of North Carolina to amend the Constitution of North Carolina written in 1776 by the Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress. They met in Raleigh, North Carolina from June 4, 1835, to July 11, 1835, and approved several amendments to the constitution that were voted on and approved by the voters of North Carolina on November 9, 1835. These amendments improved the representation of the more populous counties in the Piedmont and western regions of the state and, for the first time, provided for the election of the governor by popular vote rather than election by the members of the General Assembly.
The population distribution had changed since the time of the original constitution was written in 1776. The number of counties had increased from 38 at the time of the first general assembly in 1777 to 68 in 1835. Many new counties had been created in the central Piedmont[note 1] and Western regions of the state. The population of the 23 counties in the Piedmont region (344,184) and eight counties in the Western region (80,592) combined exceeded that of the 34 counties in the Eastern region (313,211) in 1830. This created a greater demand for roads, schools, and infrastructure in the faster growing counties, especially the Piedmont region. The 1776 constitution had spelled out one senator for each county, at least two delegates to the house of commons for each county, and one senator from each of eight large towns, also called districts or boroughs. The governor was also chosen by the general assembly vice the voters in each county.[1][2][3]
The 1776 Constitution was worded with restrictions on who could and who could not vote, as follows:[3]
"That all freemen of the age of twenty-one Years, who have been inhabitants of any one county within this State twelve months immediately preceding the day of any election, and shall have paid public taxes shall be entitled to vote for members of the House of Commons for the county in which he resides."
"That no clergyman, or preacher of the gospels of any denomination shall be capable of being a member of either the Senate, House of Commons, or Council of State, while he continues in the exercise of the pastoral function."
"That no person, who shall deny the being of God or the truth of the Protestant religion, or the divine authority either of the Old or New Testaments, or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the State, shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State."
Freemen included former slaves, so they were allowed to vote in North Carolina from 1777 to 1835.
Amendments to the constitutionedit
Out of the convention came many amendments. Among those changes was fixing the membership of the Senate and House at their present levels, 50 senators and 120 representatives. Each county received at least one representative in the House and the remainder of the 120 representatives were assigned based on population of the counties. Senators were elected from districts that were laid out based on the amount of taxes paid to the state for each county. Also, the office of Governor became popularly elected. These changes gave the more populous western counties more of a say in government but still favored those who owned property, since this was required to vote and hold office. The vote was taken away from freed slaves in this convention, which followed a national trend. The most ardent supporters of disenfranchisement were located in the Eastern regions, where the black population was higher and slavery had been more established. The convention approved the changes on July 11, 1835. The convention's proposed changes were adopted by vote of the people on November 9, 1835 with 26,771 in favor and 21,606 against. These changes remained in effect until 1868 when the Constitution was next changed.[4][5][6][7][8][9]
The convention also provided amendments that eliminated private acts that granted divorces, changed names, and legitimizing persons; provided procedures to impeach of state officers; procedures to remove judges for disability; established biannual legislative sessions; and provides provisions for amending the constitution.[5]
Officersedit
President Nathaniel MaconChairman pro tempore David Lowry Swain
The following officers were chosen by the delegates to the convention:[10]
In 1835, the counties of North Carolina were characterized as either eastern or western counties. The more sparsely populated counties were in the west. The voters from the counties elected two delegates for each county in elections held in April 1835. In 1835, there were 38 Eastern counties and 27 Western counties (Western and Piedmont Regions, see table). The following delegates were elected by the eligible voters of North Carolina:[5][11]
^The Piedmont region as is commonly referred today was probably included in what is now called the Western region and just referred to as the Western region.
^Samuel Price Carson was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1825–1833).
^Daniel Moreau Barringer was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1843–1849).
^Samuel Tredwell Sawyer was U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1837–1839).
^William J. Gaston was U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1813–1817).
^Richard Dobbs Spaight, Democratic party, was the Governor of North Carolina (1835–1836)
^Louis Dicken Wilson was a Brigadier-General of the 5th North Carolina Brigade and participated in the Mexican-American war.
^Robert B. Gilliam was elected to be a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina in 1870 but died before he could take his office.
^Josiah Crudup was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1821–1823).
^John Motley Morehead was the Governor of North Carolina (1841–1845).
^John Branch, Democratic party, was the Governor of North Carolina (1817–1820).
^Kenneth Rayner was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1839–1845).
^Asa Biggs was a U.S. Congressman (1845–1847) and a U.S. Senator (1855–1858) from North Carolina.
^James Strudwick Smith was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1817–1821).
^William Montgomery was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1835–1841).
^Alfred Dockery was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1845–1847, 1851–1853).
^Charles Fisher was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1819–1821, 1839–1841).
^Franklin Meshack was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1807–1815).
^Nathaniel Macon was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1791 to 1815 and a member of the United States Senate from 1815 to 1828.
^Weldon Nathaniel Edwards was a U.S. Congressman from North Carolina (1813–1827).
^Yancey County was created in 1833 from sections of Burke and Buncombe Counties, so it was not included in the 1830 Census. Census figures for the 1840 Census are shown instead, even though the population in 1830 was part of these other two counties.
Referencesedit
^1830 U.S. Federal Census as listed in articles on each county.
^Humber, John L. (2006). "Convention of 1835". NCPEDIA. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
^ ab"North Carolina Constitution of 1776". Yale Law School. 1776. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
^Jeffrey, Thomas E. (1996). "1835 Constitutional Convention". NCPedia. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
^ abcCheney, John L. Jr. (1974). North Carolina Government, 1585–1974. North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State.
^Lewis, J.D. "North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835". Carolana.com. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
^Counihan, Harold J. (October 1969). The North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835: A Study in Jacksonian Democracy, NCHR 46.
^Green, Fletcher M. (1930). Constitutional Development in the South Atlantic States, 1776-1860.
^Orth, John V. (1993). The North Carolina State Constitution with History and Commentary. The University of North Carolina Press. ISBN978-0807845516.
^Connor, Henry Groves (October 1908). The Convention of 1835, North Carolina Booklet 8.
^"Journal of the Convention, Called by the Freemen of North-Carolina, to Amend the Constitution of the State, Which Assembled in the City of Raleigh, on the 4th of June, 1835, and Continued in Session Until the 11th Day of July Thereafter: Electronic Edition. North Carolina. Constitutional Convention (1835)". 1835. Retrieved November 4, 2019.
October 29, 2023
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The North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835 was a meeting of delegates elected by eligible voters in counties in the United States state of North Carolina to amend the Constitution of North Carolina written in 1776 by the Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress They met in Raleigh North Carolina from June 4 1835 to July 11 1835 and approved several amendments to the constitution that were voted on and approved by the voters of North Carolina on November 9 1835 These amendments improved the representation of the more populous counties in the Piedmont and western regions of the state and for the first time provided for the election of the governor by popular vote rather than election by the members of the General Assembly Constitution of North Carolina Convention of 1835 Fifth North Carolina Provincial Congress Convention of 1861 1862 Journal of the ConventionOverviewLegislative bodyState ConventionJurisdictionNorth Carolina United StatesMeeting placeRaleigh North CarolinaTerm1835Members130 Delegates 65 counties PresidentNathaniel MaconChairman pro temporeDavid Lowry SwainSecretaryEdmund B FreemanAssistant SecretaryJoseph D WardSessions1stJune 4 1835 July 11 1835See also Constitution of North Carolina Contents 1 Demand for a new constitution 2 Amendments to the constitution 3 Officers 4 Delegates 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesDemand for a new constitution edit nbsp Map of North Carolina published in 1833The population distribution had changed since the time of the original constitution was written in 1776 The number of counties had increased from 38 at the time of the first general assembly in 1777 to 68 in 1835 Many new counties had been created in the central Piedmont note 1 and Western regions of the state The population of the 23 counties in the Piedmont region 344 184 and eight counties in the Western region 80 592 combined exceeded that of the 34 counties in the Eastern region 313 211 in 1830 This created a greater demand for roads schools and infrastructure in the faster growing counties especially the Piedmont region The 1776 constitution had spelled out one senator for each county at least two delegates to the house of commons for each county and one senator from each of eight large towns also called districts or boroughs The governor was also chosen by the general assembly vice the voters in each county 1 2 3 The 1776 Constitution was worded with restrictions on who could and who could not vote as follows 3 That all freemen of the age of twenty one Years who have been inhabitants of any one county within this State twelve months immediately preceding the day of any election and shall have paid public taxes shall be entitled to vote for members of the House of Commons for the county in which he resides That no clergyman or preacher of the gospels of any denomination shall be capable of being a member of either the Senate House of Commons or Council of State while he continues in the exercise of the pastoral function That no person who shall deny the being of God or the truth of the Protestant religion or the divine authority either of the Old or New Testaments or who shall hold religious principles incompatible with the freedom and safety of the State shall be capable of holding any office or place of trust or profit in the civil department within this State Freemen included former slaves so they were allowed to vote in North Carolina from 1777 to 1835 Amendments to the constitution editOut of the convention came many amendments Among those changes was fixing the membership of the Senate and House at their present levels 50 senators and 120 representatives Each county received at least one representative in the House and the remainder of the 120 representatives were assigned based on population of the counties Senators were elected from districts that were laid out based on the amount of taxes paid to the state for each county Also the office of Governor became popularly elected These changes gave the more populous western counties more of a say in government but still favored those who owned property since this was required to vote and hold office The vote was taken away from freed slaves in this convention which followed a national trend The most ardent supporters of disenfranchisement were located in the Eastern regions where the black population was higher and slavery had been more established The convention approved the changes on July 11 1835 The convention s proposed changes were adopted by vote of the people on November 9 1835 with 26 771 in favor and 21 606 against These changes remained in effect until 1868 when the Constitution was next changed 4 5 6 7 8 9 The convention also provided amendments that eliminated private acts that granted divorces changed names and legitimizing persons provided procedures to impeach of state officers procedures to remove judges for disability established biannual legislative sessions and provides provisions for amending the constitution 5 Officers edit nbsp President Nathaniel Macon nbsp Chairman pro tempore David Lowry SwainThe following officers were chosen by the delegates to the convention 10 President Nathaniel Macon Chairman pro tempore David Lowry Swain Secretary Edmund B Freeman Assistant Secretary Joseph D Ward Doorkeepers Green Hill and John Cooper Printers Gales amp SonDelegates edit nbsp Kenneth Rayner nbsp Samuel Price Carson nbsp Asa Biggs nbsp John Motley Morehead nbsp Richard Dobbs Spaight Jr nbsp John Owen nbsp William Gaston nbsp Charles Fisher Rowan County nbsp Jesse Speight nbsp John BranchIn 1835 the counties of North Carolina were characterized as either eastern or western counties The more sparsely populated counties were in the west The voters from the counties elected two delegates for each county in elections held in April 1835 In 1835 there were 38 Eastern counties and 27 Western counties Western and Piedmont Regions see table The following delegates were elected by the eligible voters of North Carolina 5 11 County Member 1 Member 2 Region 1830 County PopulationAnson William A Morris Joseph White Piedmont 14 095Ashe Alexander B McMillan George Bower Western 6 987Beaufort Joshua Tayloe Richard H Bonner Eastern 10 969Bertie David Outlaw note 2 Joseph B G Roulhac Eastern 12 262Bladen John Owen note 3 Samuel B Andres Eastern 7 811Brunswick Frederick J Hill William R Hall Eastern 6 516Buncombe David Lowry Swain note 4 James Gudger Sr Western 16 281Burke Burges S Gaither Samuel Price Carson note 5 Western 17 888Cabarrus Daniel Moreau Barringer note 6 Christopher Melchor Piedmont 8 810Camden Willie McPherson George Ferebee Eastern 6 733Carteret Wallace H Styron James W Bryan Eastern 6 597Caswell William A Lea Calvin Graves Piedmont 15 185Chatham Joseph Ramsay Hugh McQueen Piedmont 15 405Chowan Joseph B Skinner Samuel Tredwell Sawyer note 7 Eastern 6 697Columbus Alexander Troy Absalom Powell Eastern 4 141Craven William J Gaston note 8 Richard Dobbs Spaight Jr note 9 Eastern 13 734Cumberland John D Toomer Archibald McDiarmid Eastern 14 834Currituck Gideon C Marchant Isaac Baxter Eastern 7 655Davidson John A Hogan John L Hargrave Piedmont 13 389Duplin Jeremiah Pearsall John E Hussey Eastern 11 291Edgecombe Louis Dicken Wilson note 10 Phesanton S Sugg Eastern 14 935Franklin Henry J G Ruffin William P Williams Piedmont 10 665Gates Riddick Gatling Whitmel Stallings Eastern 7 866Granville Robert B Gilliam note 11 Josiah Crudup note 12 Piedmont 19 355Greene Jesse Speight Thomas Hooker Eastern 6 413Guilford John Motley Morehead note 13 Jonathan Parker Piedmont 18 737Halifax John Branch note 14 Joseph J Daniel Eastern 17 739Haywood William Welch Joseph Cathey Western 4 578Hertford Isaac Pipkin Kenneth Rayner note 15 Eastern 8 537Hyde Wilson B Hodges Alexander F Gaston Eastern 6 184Iredell Samuel King John M Young Piedmont 14 918Johnston Jesse Adams Hillory Wilder Eastern 10 938Jones William Huggins James W Howard Eastern 5 608Lenoir James Cox Council Wooten Eastern 7 723Lincoln Bartlett Shipp Henry Cansler Piedmont 22 455Macon Benjamin S Brittain James W Guinn Western 5 333Martin Jesse Cooper Asa Biggs note 16 Eastern 8 539Mecklenburg James M Hutcheson Isaac Grier Piedmont 20 073Montgomery John B Martin James L Gaines Piedmont 10 919Moore John B Kelly Charles Chalmers Piedmont 7 745Nash John Arrington William W Boddie Eastern 8 490New Hanover Lewis H Marsteller Owen Holmes Eastern 10 959Northampton Roderick B Gary Samuel Calvert Eastern 13 391Onslow David W Saunders John A Averitt Eastern 7 814Orange James Strudwick Smith note 17 William Montgomery note 18 Piedmont 23 908Pasquotank Richard H Ramsay John L Bailey Eastern 8 641Perquimans Jonathan H Jacocks Jesse Wilson Eastern 7 419Person Moses Chambers John W Williams Piedmont 10 027Pitt Robert Williams Sr John Joiner Eastern 12 093Randolph Alexander Gray Benjamin Elliott Piedmont 12 406Richmond Alfred Dockery note 19 Henry W Harrington Piedmont 9 396Robeson John W Powell Richard C Bunting Eastern 9 433Rockingham Edward T Brodnax John L Lesueur Piedmont 12 935Rowan Charles Fisher note 20 John Giles Piedmont 20 786Rutherford Joseph Carson MD Theodorick F Birchett Western 17 557Sampson William B Meares Thomas I Faison Eastern 11 634Stokes Matthew R Moore Emanuel Shober Piedmont 16 196Surry Meshack Franklin note 21 William P Dobson Piedmont 14 504Tyrrell Hezekiah G Spruill Joseph Halsey Eastern 4 732Wake Henry Seawell Kimbrough Jones Piedmont 20 398Warren Nathaniel Macon note 22 Weldon Nathaniel Edwards note 23 Piedmont 11 877Washington Joseph C Norcom Josiah Collins Jr Eastern 4 552Wayne Gabriel Sherard Lemuel H Whitfield Eastern 10 331Wilkes Edmund Jones James Wellborn Western 11 968Yancey Abner Jervis Bacchus J Smith Western 5 962 1840 note 24 See also editList of counties in North Carolina North Carolina General Assembly of 1835 North Carolina General Assembly of 1836 1837Notes edit The Piedmont region as is commonly referred today was probably included in what is now called the Western region and just referred to as the Western region David Outlaw was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1847 1853 John Owen Democratic party was the Governor on North Carolina 1828 1830 David Lowry Swain National Republican party was the Governor of North Carolina 1832 1835 Samuel Price Carson was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1825 1833 Daniel Moreau Barringer was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1843 1849 Samuel Tredwell Sawyer was U S Congressman from North Carolina 1837 1839 William J Gaston was U S Congressman from North Carolina 1813 1817 Richard Dobbs Spaight Democratic party was the Governor of North Carolina 1835 1836 Louis Dicken Wilson was a Brigadier General of the 5th North Carolina Brigade and participated in the Mexican American war Robert B Gilliam was elected to be a U S Congressman from North Carolina in 1870 but died before he could take his office Josiah Crudup was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1821 1823 John Motley Morehead was the Governor of North Carolina 1841 1845 John Branch Democratic party was the Governor of North Carolina 1817 1820 Kenneth Rayner was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1839 1845 Asa Biggs was a U S Congressman 1845 1847 and a U S Senator 1855 1858 from North Carolina James Strudwick Smith was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1817 1821 William Montgomery was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1835 1841 Alfred Dockery was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1845 1847 1851 1853 Charles Fisher was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1819 1821 1839 1841 Franklin Meshack was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1807 1815 Nathaniel Macon was a member of the United States House of Representatives from 1791 to 1815 and a member of the United States Senate from 1815 to 1828 Weldon Nathaniel Edwards was a U S Congressman from North Carolina 1813 1827 Yancey County was created in 1833 from sections of Burke and Buncombe Counties so it was not included in the 1830 Census Census figures for the 1840 Census are shown instead even though the population in 1830 was part of these other two counties References edit 1830 U S Federal Census as listed in articles on each county Humber John L 2006 Convention of 1835 NCPEDIA Retrieved November 4 2019 a b North Carolina Constitution of 1776 Yale Law School 1776 Retrieved September 4 2019 Jeffrey Thomas E 1996 1835 Constitutional Convention NCPedia Retrieved September 23 2019 a b c Cheney John L Jr 1974 North Carolina Government 1585 1974 North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State Lewis J D North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835 Carolana com Retrieved November 4 2019 Counihan Harold J October 1969 The North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835 A Study in Jacksonian Democracy NCHR 46 Green Fletcher M 1930 Constitutional Development in the South Atlantic States 1776 1860 Orth John V 1993 The North Carolina State Constitution with History and Commentary The University of North Carolina Press ISBN 978 0807845516 Connor Henry Groves October 1908 The Convention of 1835 North Carolina Booklet 8 Journal of the Convention Called by the Freemen of North Carolina to Amend the Constitution of the State Which Assembled in the City of Raleigh on the 4th of June 1835 and Continued in Session Until the 11th Day of July Thereafter Electronic Edition North Carolina Constitutional Convention 1835 1835 Retrieved November 4 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1835 amp oldid 1134239111, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
